| Latin Name | Observation Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Polistes olivaceus | May 14, 2026 | Purulia, Natore, Bangladesh |
Nature has a strange allure that draws us back to it again and again. Whenever I get some free time, I go out to the bushes or ponds in the garden with my camera in hand. The wonderful form of life of small insects that emerges through the lens through macro photography is truly amazing. During one such outing, my camera caught an incredibly bright and attractive insect. From a distance, it looks as if someone has painted dark brown and black stripes on the yellow color. It is better known to the people of rural Bengal as the common yellow paper wasp or vimorul.
After taking a picture of this insect, I became curious to know more about it. With the help of the i-Naturalist app, I found out some wonderful information about it, which I am writing here today for nature lovers.
Name and scientific name:
The common English name of this beautiful insect is Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp. In zoology, its official scientific name is Polistes olivaceus. According to classification, it is a insect belonging to the Polistes genus. The wasps of this genus are called 'paper wasps' because the main material for making their nests looks exactly like man-made paper.
Habitat and distribution:
According to information, the original habitat or habitat of this yellow wasp is our Indian subcontinent and East Asian countries. That is, they are the own insect of this region. However, they are not limited to this region only. Over time, they have spread to different parts of the world through human travel and trade. Currently, they have a large habitat in East Africa and various Pacific island countries such as Hawaii, Easter Island, Cook Islands and Marshes Islands. In the local language of the Cook Islands, it is called 'Rango Patia'.
Habitat and lifestyle:
They are found in abundance in all corners of our country, especially in rural areas or in slightly shaded environments. They usually prefer noise-free and safe places. They nest in high branches of trees, under large leaves of orchards, old abandoned houses, roof cornices, gaps in brick walls or in window corners. The technique of building a nest is very peculiar. They chew wood, dry bark of trees and other plant materials with their teeth and mix them with their saliva to create a kind of soft pulp. This pulp dries in the air and becomes like paper. With this natural paper, they make very strong and secure chalks (home) with geometric designs.
Diet:
They are quite diverse in terms of diet. Adult wasp mainly prefer vegetarian food. Their main food is honey from various wild flowers, tree sap and sweet juice of ripe fruits. But the interesting thing is that they become fierce hunters to raise their young (larvae). Since the larvae need a lot of protein, the adult wasps go out to hunt regularly. They catch small caterpillars, spiders and other soft insects and chew them to make meat pulp, which they return home and feed to their young.
Reproduction and life cycle:
Their reproduction process is very orderly and group-based. There is a queen wasp in a colony, whose main job is to lay eggs. The queen first starts building the nest and lays one egg in each cell. When the eggs hatch, white larvae or babies come out. Then the worker wasps work day and night to collect food for these babies and take care of them. The larvae get enough food and gradually grow up and eventually turn into pupae and close their cells. After a few days, they come out of the nest as full-fledged wasps and join the work of the colony.
Excellent bait for fishing with a hook:
This bolta chuck or nest has a very practical aspect to our rural Bengal. It is a very familiar name, especially for those who love to fish. The soft white larvae or babies inside the bolta chuck are an extraordinary and very tempting bait for fishing with a hook. Using these larvae while sitting in a pond, canal or river with a rod can yield magical results. Native fish like Rui, Katla, Mrigel, and even Puti or Tangra go crazy with the smell of this bait. Many amateur fishermen in rural areas very carefully and bravely break the bolta chuck and collect these larvae and use them for fishing.
Benefits:
They contribute a lot to maintaining the balance of our natural ecosystem. Firstly, when they move from one flower to another in search of food, the pollen on their bodies spreads and pollination occurs, which is very important for the farmers' crop production. Secondly, they act as natural guards of our agricultural lands and gardens by eating a large number of harmful caterpillars and other pests. As a result, the attack of harmful insects on the farmers' lands is greatly reduced.
Harm and Caution:
Apart from all these benefits, they also have a dangerous form. They do not compromise at all in the protection of their nests or colonies. If someone throws stones at their nests, hits them or they feel disturbed for any reason, they become very aggressive in groups. Their sting is very sharp and poisonous. When a wasp stings, it causes severe pain, burning and swelling in the area. For those who are allergic to insect venom, the bite of this wasp can be a serious danger. So it is wise to always maintain a safe distance when visiting their nests.
All in all, while these insects are necessary in nature, it is also important to be careful of them.
I hope you like it.
I learned about them from various sites including iNaturalist, Wikipedia and Google.
(All posts are written in Bengali and translated into English using Google Translate.)
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| Camera Used | Samsung SM-G973F |
|---|---|
| F-Stop | F2.4 |
| ISO speed | ISO |
| Focal length | 26mm |
| Flash | No |
| Editing app | MIX |
| Photography | Yellow Oriental Paper Wasp (Polistes olivaceus) |
| Photographer |  |
| Location | Purulia, Natore, Bangladesh |
| Link to original community |
|---|
| https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/361515118 |
| Latitude | Longitude | Map Link |
|---|---|---|
| 24.3322 | 89.1086 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?#map=12/24.3322/89.1086 |